Two former Parramatta Eels players are accused of harbouring semi-automatic weapons and possessing more than half-a-million dollars in cash after dramatic arrests in Sydney's Centennial Park yesterday.

Afghan drawdown to proceed overland

Australia's withdrawal from Afghanistan is set to become much easier with the removal of equipment overland through Pakistan.

The route, which previously carried the bulk of fuel and supplies for coalition forces in Afghanistan, was closed following an incident in 2011 in which US aircraft mistakenly attacked a border post, killing 24 Pakistani soldiers.

It is now being reopened, although vehicle convoys could still face insurgent attack.

Australia plans to withdraw significant numbers of personnel by the end of the year.

It also has started withdrawing some of the equipment accumulated in more than a decade of conflict.

Defence force chief David Hurley said the task force was thinning out some non-essential equipment, which was the normal military thing to do.

General Hurley said US and UK forces had successfully used the route - considered the best way to transport large and bulky items to the port of Karachi.